Some things about weddings are predictable and never seem to change – mothers cry and fathers beam from ear to ear, while nervous brides worry about everything going as planned.
But other wedding customs and traditions have changed over the years.
“People have gotten so far from tradition,” said Kimberly Pate, owner of A Day to Remember, a bridal consulting business in Decatur. “They just put in what they like.
“Some brides are very etiquette and tradition-oriented, but many are not,” Pate said.
Sarah Morris, owner of The Something Blue Shoppe in Hartselle, said dress styles have changed.
“We see a lot of dresses now with no sleeves or strapless,” Morris said. “I sell very few long-sleeved, high-necked dresses.
“There is not as much lace or embellishments, such as pearls,” Morris adds. The fabrics now tend to be rich and beautiful. With the pearls and lace left off, the fabric takes center stage.”
Although most brides still prefer the traditional white or candlelight dress, Morris said the colors of the attendants’ dresses are very different.
“Ten years ago, we saw lots of jewel tones,” she said. “Now, we have softer variations of those colors. For example, instead of hunter green, brides are choosing sage.”
Morris notes that not all wearing apparel has changed. “They all still like headpieces and veils, and every bride wants a garter.”
The good news is that the average price of a wedding dress has come down. The bad news is that mothers are spending more for their dresses.
Other aspects of traditional weddings also show that times are changing. While brides still tend to favor church or home weddings, no location seems out of bounds for a ceremony.
Jack Bailey, pastor of Danville Baptist Church in Morgan County, said he was once asked to perform a ceremony on a fire truck in a fire hall. More appropriate venues that are growing in popularity are wedding chapels and bed-and-breakfasts.
Pate also said receptions are moving off-site more frequently. The setup of the reception has changed very little.
Music also changes slowly, although she pointed out that music choices have always been very personal.
She said flowers have gone from elaborate to very simple, often a single stem or spray with a ribbon.
While some couples write their own vows, Pate said there is enough variety that most can find something that suits them.
So who pays for all of the finery and other costs of a wedding? Pate said it is not always the parents of the bride any more.
One thing never changes, at least for Pate.
“The bride is still the boss,” she said. “It’s her wedding.”
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